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WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S: Purple Alzheimer’s shirts will be seen all over Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties Saturday, as participants in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s show their support for Alzheimer’s research, care and support.

Registration is now open for this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s. While the Alzheimer’s Association is not gathering a large crowd because of COVID-19 restrictions, participants are encouraged to walk individually in their neighborhood to join the movement.

The goal is to raise $137,000.

This year, Youngstown State University will be the site of a view-only Promise Garden location 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Walk Ceremony, with the traditional Promise Garden Ceremony, will occur at 10 a.m. and will be livestreamed.

Kathy Brown is this year’s event chair for the Mahoning Valley Walk and the honorary chair is Stephanie Miranda, Miss Ohio USA 2020.

People can go to alz.org/walk to register for the event. Participants are encouraged to download the Walk to End Alzheimer’s app for additional tools.

On Walk Day, participants are encouraged to log onto Mainstage, the event’s interactive online experience; Livestream the opening Promise Garden Ceremony; walk in your neighborhood; track your steps using the app; and visit the Promise Garden location.

ACUPUNCTURE FOR A CAUSE: The Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center, Boardman, and Suzelis Holistic Health, Newton Falls, have announced they will be hosting an Acupuncture for a Cause Fundraiser on Friday in Boardman and Oct. 3 in Newton Falls. All acupuncture session fees will be donated to the Autism Society of Mahoning Valley to support its mission of helping Mahoning Valley families living with autism to have more social and support programs.

This fundraiser will be a way for individuals to try acupuncture at a discount. There is also a natural health basket being raffled off to raise more funds. Online raffle tickets or general donations to the Autism Society can be purchased at: autismmv.org/donate.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 330-729-1350 (Boardman) or 330-872-1577 (Newton Falls) and ask to schedule an initial acupuncture consultation for Acupuncture for a Cause.

MERCY HEALTH HOSPITALS RECOGNIZED: Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has recognized three Mercy Health hospitals in the Mahoning Valley as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown, Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Boardman, and Mercy Health-St. Joseph Warren hospitals were each named Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement.

Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities that show a commitment to delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations. There were 507 hospitals nationwide awarded the distinction in a Sept. 2 report.

Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. All designated facilities must maintain national accreditation, and ASCs are also required to have an advanced orthopedic certification.

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

MAHONING HEALTH FLU SHOTS: Mahoning County Public Health will be hosting flu shot clinics at various locations throughout the county.

The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendations for getting a flu shot include: Children ages 6 months to 2 years old; adults 65 and older; pregnant women and women up to two weeks postpartum; residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities; those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, blood disorders, diabetes, kidney, liver, or endocrine disorders, weakened immune systems due to diseases such as cancer, HIV or AIDS, or medications such as chronic steroid use or long-term aspirin use in people younger than 19.

Schedule an appointment by calling 330-270-2855 ext. 125 prior to clinic date. All clinics are by appointment only.

Bring insurance cards, driver’s license, Medicaid and Medicare cards so the cost of the vaccine can be billed. Most private insurances are accepted;

Mahoning County Public Health is a Vaccines for Children Program Provider and will have limited opportunities for children that are uninsured or underinsured to receive the vaccine free.

Dates for flu shots include:

• Oct. 1, 9 a.m. at Mahoning County Public Health, 50 Westchester Drive, Austintown;

• Oct. 6, 2 to 5 p.m. at Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 South Broad Street, Canfield;

• Oct. 8, 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Beaver Township Woodworth Park, 225 Warren Ave., Poland;

• Oct. 15, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mahoning County Public Health, 50 Westchester Drive;

• Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Boardman United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 6809 Market St., Youngstown;

• Oct. 21, 2 to 5 p.m., Struthers Mauthe Park, 156 Smithfield St., Struthers;

• Oct. 22, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mahoning County Public Health, 50 Westchester Drive;

• Oct. 28, 3 to 6 p.m., Poland Township Administration Building, 3339 Dobbins Road, Poland;

• Oct. 29, 2 to 5 p.m. , Campbell City Roosevelt Park, Struthers Liberty Road, Youngstown.

STEPPING OUT DAILY: Stepping Out, provided through a grant from the Mercy Health Foundation, offers daily activities and programs throughout the Mahoning Valley.

For information or scheduling with the nutritional educator or personal trainer, call Doris Bullock, project coordinator at 330-720-3293 or 330-480-8659, or email her at dibullock@mercy.com.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT: The Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter makes Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups available free to all caregivers, family members and friends with a loved one affected by the disease or another form of dementia.

For more information on updated times and dates, or to confirm, contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP: Family Recovery Center’s Oxford House (also known as Eloise V. Traina Center of Hope), 320 Benton Road, Salem, began a Families Anonymous meeting as fellowship for the family and friends of those individuals with drug, alcohol or related behavioral issues.

To learn more about the support meetings offered, contact 330-424-1468.

VIRTUAL WALKING PROGRAM: The American Heart Association and Sharon Regional Medical Center are providing a free, virtual community walking program that gets people moving during the pandemic.

The initiative, called “Healthy For Good,” will run through the Mercer / Lawrence Heart Walk on Sept. 26. Anyone can join the group through the Healthy Steps Virtual Walking Program Facebook page.

For more information about the walking program, contact Jessica Doudrick at the American Heart Association at 717-891-8122 or Lisa DiMuccio-Zgela at Sharon Regional Medical Center at 724-983-7474.

VALLEY COUNSELING OPERATING: Valley Counseling Services continues to provide mental health services to residents of the Mahoning Valley throughout the viral outbreak. Necessary precautions will be taken to keep clients and staff safe.

Most services will be phone-based or video-based. Clients do not need to cancel their appointment. Instead they will receive therapy, case management, nursing and psychiatry services in the safety of their home.

Visit the website at vcs.fcsserves.org or call 330-399-6451 for more information.

PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT: Domestic abuse support groups are available for all types of abusive relationships — emotional, verbal or physical. For more information, contact 330-856-3463.

SUPPORT GROUP: For information about the Circle of Hope, a support group for those with a mental health diagnosis, call 330-502-8103.

LUPUS SUPPORT: For information about the Trumbull Mahoning Lupus Support Group, call Rhonda at 330-978-3749. Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month.

ADDICTION SCREENINGS: Narconon can help families take steps to help someone overcome addiction. Call 800-431-1754 for free screenings or referrals.

For information, visit www.narcononnewliferetreat.org/blog/intervention-101.

PSYCARE OFFERING TELEHEALTH: PsyCare is providing phone-based or video-based mental health services through its clinics in Austintown, Boardman, Cortland, East Liverpool, Howland, Liberty and Struthers. Visit the PsyCare website at www.psycare.com or call 800-242-4604.

ADDICTION THERAPY AVAILABLE: PsyCare Inc., 2980 Belmont Ave., Liberty, offers a clinical therapy program to treat individuals with substance abuse and drug addiction issues. Family members are also welcome. Assessments can be scheduled by calling 330-759-2310.

ONE HEALTH OFFERS TELEHEALTH: ONE Health Ohio offers telehealth appointments to patients for medical, behavioral health, chronic care management, dietetics and medication-assisted treatment services. Call 877-722-3303 or visit www.onehealthohio.org.

Telehealth appointments for medication-assisted treatment and counseling are available through RISE Recovery by contacting 844-652-8219. RISE Recovery also remains open for in-office visits, dependent on appointment type.